In a week full of upsets around the National Football League, none was bigger than Romeo Crennel’s Kansas City Chiefs handing the Green Bay Packers (13-1) their first loss of the season in a 19-14 win at Arrowhead Stadium

(Philadelphia, PA) — Week 15 of the 92nd NFL Season is in the books and even though the NFL’s slogan for the 2011 season is “Back to Football”, it should really be “This is One Wacky Season!!” From week to week fans have no idea where the next upset, game-winning field goal, or team entering/leaving the playoff race will come from next. Remember what former Colts head coach Tony Dungy said about professional football this time of the year, “NFL football is really still about November and December”.

Eagles Owner Jeffrey Lurie will have plenty of difficult decisions to make after a disappointing season concludes for his team. Sunday’s win over the Dolphins keeps the Birds mathematically alive for the playoffs, but the question needs to be asked; After a season of high hopes and expectations, is a strong finish good enough?

When the obituary of this dreadful Philadelphia Eagles season is published, the Eagles would like for Sunday’s win over the now 4-9 Miami Dolphins to be the accompanying photo. That simply cannot be the case.

Granted, Sunday was the most complete effort in a season of inconsistent or worse performances from an Eagles team that has fallen woefully short of preseason expectations, but it simply can’t stand as the benchmark for this season. As encouraging as a 26-10 win that produced two LeSean McCoy touchdowns, three forced turnovers on defense and a cleaner game in the penalty department is, the realization needs to be that this performance came against the Matt Moore led Dolphins, a far cry from the Dan Marino Fish of years gone by. Continue reading →

Taking It To The House lead writer Matt Lombardo was on the scene at Novacare on Wednesday as the Eagles began preparation for their week 14 game against the Miami Dolphins. As the season comes down the home stretch, the Eagles are not mathematically eliminated from the playoffs at 4-8, but the pressure is mounting on Head Coach Andy Reid who was forced to address questions about his job security next season. Reid flatly denied reports that the Front Office gave him an ultimatum to fire Juan Castillo in order to save his own job next season.

Eagles Running Back Ronnie Brown

Ronnie Brown talks about what it will be like to return to Sun Life Stadium for the first time as a visitor.

Eagles Quarterback Michael Vick

Michael Vick talks about what to expect on Sunday in Miami, as well as it marking his first start in three games after suffering two broken ribs.

Eagles linebacker Jamar Chaney

Jamar Chaney talks about the matchup problems presented by the Miami Dolphins and their offense that is suddenly high powered behind quarterback Matt Moore and running back Reggie Bush. Chaney also acknowledged the defense’s inconsistencies this season as a contributing factor to the team’s 4-8 record.

Matt Lombardo is the Lead Writer for Taking It To The House. Matt is also the Philadelphia Eagles beat reporter and a host for 97.3 ESPN in Atlantic City, NJ. Matt can be reached on Twitter @MattLombardoPHL or by Email atMDLombardo@yahoo.com

Despite reports that Andy Reid was told to fire Juan Castillo in order to save his own job next season, the Head Coach says that conversation never took place.

Reports surfaced early this week that the Eagles front office approached Andy Reid with a mandate to fire defensive coordinator Juan Castillo in order to secure that he would return as the Head Coach in 2012. On Wednesday at the Novacare Complex, Reid was asked about the report and adamantly denied such a conversation took place. Continue reading →

Baltimore Ravens RB Ray Rice was this week’s game ball winner for his 200-yard rushing effort in a dominating win over the Cleveland Browns

The third quarter of the 2011 NFL Season is completed and there is not much time left for teams to either join the San Francisco 49ers and the undefeated Green Bay Packers in the playoffs or step aside. I love this time of the year as desperation is in the air for everyone in the NFL with jobs and playoff berths both on the line in equal numbers. After 13 weeks of NFL play, there are still the “Have’s” (7 teams with 8 wins or more including the league’s only undefeated team — Green Bay Packers,12-0) and the “Have Nots” (10 teams with 4 or less wins, who are now basically spoilers).

But a good portion of the league (15 teams) are still caught in the parity-laden middle with records ranging from 7-5 to 5-7 including former 2010 playoff teams – NY Jets (7-5), Atlanta Falcons (7-5), Chicago Bears (7-5), Seattle Seahawks (5-7), and KC Chiefs (5-7). So with only four games remaining for teams there is little time left for the “Contenders” and “Pretenders” to sort themselves out — 10 playoff berths remaining. Continue reading →

Following Thursday Night’s 31-14 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, the Philadelphia Eagles are now 4-8 and in last place in the NFC East. Much like the ends of the Rich Kotite and Ray Rhodes eras, this season increasingly has the feel of Andy Reid’s last.

As the death knell begins to ring louder on this Eagles team with each passing loss in the final weeks of this nightmarish season, there is one thing that’s never been more evident: these are the end days of the Andy Reid era.

Regardless of whether or not Owner Jeffery Lurie actually pulls the proverbial plug on the 13-year Reid regime, this is a coach that has lost his locker room and who’s errors in judgment more than justify his dismissal. Continue reading →

I am sure this is not what NFL Network was thinking when they saw two former 2010 division winning playoff teams on the schedule for a late-season Thursday Night match-up. But this is what they are left with…. In a game that features two very inconsitent teams, the Philadelphia Eagles (4-7) will try to pull their season back from life support when they take-on the equally disappointing Seahawks on Thursday Night Football. It will be interesting to see if the undermanned Birds and their beleaguered head coach — Andy Reid fighting for possibly his job — can find a way to get a much-need “W”.Continue reading →